MP had some serious ants in her pants earlier this month. When this happens, the family can bet on a road trip. Any change of scenery will do. We decided on a visit to The New Moon Restaurant (aka DP’s new favorite breakfast place) followed by a trip to the Saco River Market.

The New Moon is in a cute yellow building with a high-pitched roof that looks straight out of a fairy tale. In March, the space was still decorated for the holidays, complete with garland hanging from the ceiling, snowman decorations, and white lights. But no matter. The breakfast menu looked promising. MP decided on eggs with feta, spinach, and a side of tomato hollandaise. CP#1 chose crepes with fresh strawberries. And DP ordered chicken waffles with gravy. CP#2 kept to his standard: chocolate chip pancakes and sausage.

Our food and coffee arrived quickly, which is always a good thing with hungry kids in tow. MP’s egg dish was filling and the creamy hollandaise added nice flavor. The meal also came with a healthy side of roasted potatoes and thick slices of Rye bread.

If there is one dessert that MP can’t pass up, it’s cookies. Decadent chocolate chip cookies are her weakness, followed by crisp butter cookies and just about anything made with dark chocolate. So you can imagine her delight when she discovered Slice & Bake Cookies by Camden-based cookbook author Elinor Klivans. The cookbook features make-ahead cookie dough you can refrigerate or freeze for later use.

We recently received a thoughtful note in response to this post about our nephew, Little J. A mother and reader wrote to tell us her two-year old son also has a rare undiagnosed syndrome. He attends The Children’s Center in Augusta. The center offers kids with disabilities and their families educational and therapeutic support through a variety of programs. The center is hosting a fundraising event called The Chili Chowder Challenge next weekend, and asked if we could post about it. We’re wondering how we missed this incredible fundraiser in the past!

Some call the Children’s Center Chili Chowder Challenge the best in the state, and it’s not uncommon for families to return year after year. Even if you don’t live anywhere near Augusta, you’ll want to make the trip. Where else can you enjoy delicious food from local restaurantsand entertain your children for a few hours? You’ll find craft tables, parachute play, live music, storytelling, face painting and donut decorating, to name a few. While the kids are having fun, you can participate in the live auction or check out the goodies at the silent auction tables.

On this sunny March Friday, with the promise of warmer days ahead, it’s nice to recall last summer. A highlight of our August was filming a short piece as Maine Insiders for the Maine Department of Tourism. The two-day shoot took us from Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport to Popham Beach and all of our favorite places in between.